What Do You Do With Used Silage Plastic?

What Do You Do With Used Silage Plastic? CROP STORAGE Bag Silos 24-5-6 There's very little available in the way of recycling programs for plastic used on farms - from silage bags to bale wraps. As a result, some farmers find that the most cost-efficient thing for them to do is to burn the plastic. One Alberta farmer (who wishes to remain anonymous) uses an old round bale feeder as a cage to collect, and later, burn plastic silage bags. The feeder keeps wind from blowing away chunks of plastic, and contains the fire. Debbie Linder, Operations Director for Ag-Bag International in Warrenton, Oregon, says her company has been setting up Ag-Bag plastic collection sites across the U.S. over the past six years. They currently have 10 sites where farmers can leave their unwanted, clean plastic, but there is not yet enough demand in the recyling industry to provide payment to the farmers. So far, the plastic has been used to make such things as plastic fenceposts, roofing and decking. Some farmers have been known to bale their plastic with an old square baler and burn it in outdoor furnace heated buildings. According to Linder, the plastic is an efficient source of energy since it retains just as much energy. And when it's burned at over 400 degrees F, there is very little residue left. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Debbie Linder, Operations Director, Ag-Bag International, 2320 S.E. Ag-Bag Lane, Warrenton, Oregon 97146 (ph 800 334-7432, ext. 226; E-mail: dlinder@ag-bag.com).

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